Not only does the whole Springfield train transition seem an astronomical, financial-fiasco indulgence, but also the entire Amtrak update seems ludicrous. Sen. Dick Durbin has guided the Washington “fountain of money” so that rail riders can get from Chicago to St. Louis 30 minutes sooner as the ultimate coup de grace.

Who cares? This seems to imply that national funding is a “gift from the gods” with a mere token payment paid locally by us (the 49 percent who still pay federal income tax).

What a joy to observe “spendaholics” who have never seen a tax dollar they didn’t like, and who find newly needed expenditures to accidentally dovetail with their re-election positions.

Granted, European and Asian countries rely more on rail, but its growth potential in the U.S. seems limited at best. What miniscule percentage of ridership will be aboard versus the multitude of taxpayers who will foot the bill?

Our omnipresent Obama leadership promises to know what’s best for our future well being. Hallelujah, there’s only three more enduring years to treasure this brilliant insight.

Hopefully somehow our state and federal governments will survive in the unpredictable interim until the current tax increase solutions are rejected by spending cuts. May we all live so long.